The New Year's Day and its eve begins the carnival - a period of balls and parties. One traditional form of having fun was sleigh rides, for centuries favoured by the Polish gentry and still extremely popular. A cavalcade of horse-pulled sleighs and sledges went from one manor house to another, entertained everywhere with hearty meals followed by dances. Today the rides are less spectacular, usually ending with a bonfire and sausages or the traditional bigos.

The last Thursday of the carnival is a day on which Poles stuff themselves with doughnuts.

The carnival ends with revelry on Shrove Tuesday known as the "herring feast", after the herrings eaten on that day as a herald of the coming Lent.

 

 

If you are planning a visit to Poland, check these useful links:

- hotels: www.hotel-in-poland.eu, www.polish-hotel.eu
- database of all kinds of objects, from agrotourism to hotels and inns: www.relax.pl
- where to go, what to see…: www.polish-holiday.eu

- some beautiful places in Poland: Sianow (www.sianow.eu), Bielkowo (www.bielkowo.eu)
- tips for travelers: Tips (www.travel-tips.eu), Stories (www.travel-stories.eu), Guide Books (www.guide-books.eu)

 

Other interesting websites: